Good Egg Magazine, 2nd Edition 2023

M AG A Z I N E 2ND EDITION, 2023

ASHER’S GIFT The legacy of Asher Keir HUMPTY’S WISH LIST Making a tangible difference to sick kids in hospital

CARE NEEDS TO BE FAIR ACROSS THIS WIDE, BROWN LAND Maggie Dent talks about her work with Australian children

GOOD EGG MAGAZINE EDITION 2 NOVEMBER 2023 Produced by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation

What’s inside

ABN: 59 137 784 724 Charitable Status: DGR 1 CFN: #11046

LABOUR OF LOVE A huge thank you to our contributors for donating their time and expertise to Humpty to help produce this edition of the Good Egg Magazine.

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Asher’s Gift CONTRIBUTORS Paul Francis OAM, Humpty Founder & Chairman

The Keir Family said goodbye to Asher after only 3 short days. Yet Asher’s legacy will live on for many years to come.

Claire Reaney, Humpty CEO & Managing Director Diana Kahui, Humpty Director – Marketing, Fundraising & Partnerships Rebekah McLachlan, Humpty Director – Medical Programs & Sector Engagement Associate Professor Kath Browning Carmo Maggie Dent Associate Professor Joshua Francis Ross Greenwood Juanita & David Keir Jessica Kyrkou

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Care needs to be fair across this wide, brown land

Sarah Moon

FRONT COVER: Theo and Mia in East Arnhem Land Photo credit: Abby-Rose Vaggs

Maggie Dent talks about her work and the importance of Australian children having access to quality healthcare when they need it.

YOUR PRIVACY

Humpty will only collect personal information to process donations, issue tax receipts and send you updates.

Our privacy policy is available on our website humpty.org.au or call us on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY). If you do not wish to receive communications from the Humpty Dumpty Foundation please email: humpty@humpty.com.au or mail Humpty Dumpty Foundation: Suite 1402, Level 14, 67 Albert Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we serve and pays respect to the past and present First Peoples and Elders of Country throughout Australia.

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Humpty partners with medical innovators Tackling Rheumatic Heart Disease in Indigenous Australia.

Content in this magazine may be of a sensitive nature to some readers.

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Digby and the ‘Good Egg’

CEO’s Message

Bridging Healthcare Gaps

Nursing in rural Queensland at Mt Isa Hospital.

How working with partners can bring significant change.

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Humpty’s Wish List

Paediatric care expands to meet rapid growth

Chairman's Wishes

A message from Humpty’s Medical Programs Advisory Committee.

Urgently needed equipment that will create positive health outcomes.

Give with your heart by choosing a Wish List item in the state where you live or were born.

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Revolutionising parentbaby engagement

Layton's early arrival

Humpty’s Xmas Appeal

AngelEye cameras keeping families connected and engaged in neonatal units.

How Humpty helped this South Australian hospital.

A transformation is taking place in Sydney with the South West Kids initiative.

Give the gift of family this Christmas, helping kids recover closer to home.

Donations are 100% tax deductable | donate.humpty.org.au

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Chairman’s message Several years ago while holidaying with my family at Uluru I saw the photo featured on the cover of this issue of Humpty’s Good Egg Magazine.

It helped remind me of who we are and that children are often the reminder of what is really important in life.

I asked some of the Humpty team for their reflections when looking at it. They commented on what was obvious from one simple visual – Love, Purity, Friendship, Innocence, Equality – Standing Side by Side.

There is an unspoken harmony between them, a bond forged not through history but through the purity of childhood. Their embrace is an emblem of unity, transcending the differences that society might impose upon them. In this moment there is no prejudice. Their eyes, filled with curiosity and wonder reflect the promise of a future where understanding and acceptance prevail.

For many years State and Federal Governments have worked hard to close the gap in Indigenous health with little success. In remote and regional towns children are dying every day through the lack of medical equipment and a shortage of doctors and nurses.

One of Humpty’s aims is to bridge the healthcare gap that exists for children and their families who live outside the capital cities of Australia. It shouldn’t matter where you live in Australia, but sadly it does.

Since 2017, the Humpty family has worked hard to close the children’s healthcare gap in the Northern Territory (NT), which has a mortality rate three times the Australian average. We have now supplied nearly 700 pieces of medical equipment to 70 hospitals and health services across the NT. Are we making a difference?

Absolutely. Can we do more? We just have to.

As an example, one Transport Cot we donated in early 2018 has now saved the lives of over 60 children – lives that would not have been saved without this single piece of equipment.

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Theo and Mia in East Arnhem Land Photo credit: Abby-Rose Vaggs

Since then, a major private donor has donated another cot to help save more babies in remote areas of NT. At the moment the NT has over $1.2 million worth of medical wishes on the Humpty Wish List – waiting to be donated.

There is such strength in unity.

If we all work together we can make such a difference to the health outcomes for so many Australian children.

We can all make a difference but the biggest difference will be when we all come together and support each other.

From page 17 of this edition, you can read through a list of Chairman’s Wishes, Special Projects & Initiatives, and Humpty’s Wish List, all addressing high priority needs. Please feel free to reach out to me at the Humpty Office if you have any questions.

Paul Francis OAM Founder and Chairman

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About Humpty We see a future where every Australian child has access to the healthcare they need, no matter where they live.

Our mission is to raise funds to provide essential and often lifesaving paediatric medical equipment and healthcare initiatives for hospitals in every corner of Australia.

Humpty bridges the gap between limited and stretched

health budgets and unmet paediatric medical equipment needs of hospitals and health services Australia-wide.

Humpty empowers healthcare workers in big city hospitals and in rural and remote communities

Humpty keeps families closer together by helping children recover closer to home

When you choose to donate to Humpty, you will help

Australian children benefit from the best

healthcare and equipment faster.

Your support enables…

Care that wasn't possible Made possible

Faster

Donations are 100% tax deductible

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David & Juanita with Asher at John Hunter Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Newcastle

Asher Clif Keir

Asher's Gift

By Juanita & David Keir August is a special month for us. Our first-born daughter is an August baby as am I. So when Asher decided it was his month too, it felt right.

After four days in hospital, our little man was finally induced on 15 August. Asher was just 2.7 kg and although a straightforward birth, he was whisked away to the resus table having been unresponsive and struggling to breathe.

It's a unique kind of emotional roller-coaster to have the joy of having watched your wife courageously give birth to your son, only to feel a helpless fear immediately following as the crash team is called in to save your baby's life.

But that they did, and as his APGAR score raised so did our spirits. Yet something was still not right. A nasogastric tube could not be passed to his stomach and after a few calls to supporting specialists and a very experienced midwife, the team rightfully suspected a Tracheosophogeal Fistula (TOF).

A TOF is a congenital malformation where the oesophagus does not connect normally to the stomach yet the trachea abnormally does. This clearly needs immediate surgery, without which the chances are nil.

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And so Asher went on his first helicopter ride, Port Macquarie to the John Hunter Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with NSW Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS). The NETS team were genuinely incredible and safely delivered Asher to Newcastle. While transferring a sick baby like Asher is crucial, this is where things can get so difficult for a family. Juanita was unable to fly having just given birth, but then if I flew with Asher we would have ended up in Newcastle without a car. In normal circumstances that could be managed, but this was mid-COVID lockdown - we literally required a medical certificate just to travel to be with our son.

Unfortunately, Asher's story is one of deep heartbreak. He soldiered on with his cute little snorkel (CPAP hood) but during his surgery to repair his TOF, he sustained injuries he could not survive. An afternoon of hope and distress led to Asher going on his second helicopter ride from Newcastle to The Children's Hospital at Westmead where further testing confirmed the worst.

We sat with Asher and cried like never before. Not quite 72 hrs after he was born, I had my first chance

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to hold my boy. I stared at him, trying to reconcile in my mind how he could be laying there, so peacefully yet without any chance of survival.

In my arms, at 11.50pm, he started to decelerate yet he was to stay with us for another hour. This was deeply special to me, because Asher and I now share that day, as it is also my birthday.

The clock ticked over to 18 August and as our tears ran dry, we switched off his life support and said goodbye having known him only three days.

Giving is something very important to Juanita and I. In the hours following the loss of our son it was very clear that we wanted to set up a donation page. We did not want flowers or gifts. We wanted Asher to have a legacy - to impact others positively so that his short life would not be a waste. We set up Asher's Gift, and our friends, family and community came together and have raised over $30,000 for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.

Lavali and Vela

It is often the lack of equipment and resources that necessitate a newborn to be transferred to a larger hospital.

While it wouldn't change our situation, donating equipment to our local, regional hospital is something that has a real impact on families keeping them close and reducing some of the stress and so is something we're proud of.

This is Asher's Gift - Asher's legacy.

We are forever grateful to our friends and family who rallied in this time of heartache to raise these funds and it really did bring a glimmer of hope to our broken hearts. The Humpty Dumpty Foundation’s impact extends beyond the equipment. Humpty, with the support of our community, helped us heal after that forever special August.

David, Juanita and Lavali on their healing roadtrip around Australia

When your life is turned upside down on a dime, like ours was - it really highlighted the fact that life is too short. It was evident that we all needed time away as a family to grieve, heal and live life to the full so we hit the road for a three month roadtrip around Australia.

You can’t be cured from grief. You don’t just wake up one day and your heart is mended. Our trip around Australia nourished our souls and led us back home to friends and family with a new perspective on life. We were also deeply grateful to come home knowing that my wife was pregnant with our beautiful daughter, who was born in March this year.

This birth was made so much more special as we returned to Port Macquarie Base Hospital and it was our first opportunity to see the equipment “Asher’s Gift’ had supplied the hospital. After such a loss, it’s hard to enter a pregnancy and not be fraught with anxiety but the care and nurturing that Juanita received from the Port Macquarie antenatal and midwifery team was incredible.

The immediate desire to make a difference after such a tragedy was inspiring and very humbling for the team at the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.

With Humpty’s help, the Keir family and friends have raised more than $30,000, donating multiple pieces of medical equipment back into their local hospital, Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

Donations are 100% tax deductable | donate.humpty.org.au

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Care needs to be fair across this wide, brown land Maggie Dent is a parenting author and educator, and host of the Parental As Anything and The Good Enough Dad podcasts

Over the past 20 years, I have travelled the length and breadth of Australia, working with families, schools and communities to build awareness around how to raise healthy children.

I once toured Western New South Wales (NSW) and visited 15 towns in 15 days, from Broken Hill to Lightning Ridge, Coonamble and Dubbo. I have worked from the Northern Rivers down to South Coast NSW, plus made several trips inland to Griffith and Wagga Wagga. I have worked in Kununurra, Tom Price, Broome, Karratha, Port Hedland and right down south of Western Australia (WA) in Albany and Esperance. In the Northern Territory, I have been out to Katherine and have spoken in Darwin to folks from many remote communities. And I have been to many other places in between.

What I have discovered is that children's needs are the same everywhere. They need strong and loving grownups who feel safe and deeply bonded to them. They need environments that allow them the freedom to explore and play. They need educational opportunities in early childhood and schools. Importantly, children also need easy access to high-quality medical care when they need it.

Sadly, I have heard stories of the dire consequences of being unable to access medical care, especially urgent medical care, for precious children right across this land.

By Maggie Dent I get incredibly frustrated when I hear of advances in highquality, innovative medical care in our capital cities when many regional hospitals lack basic equipment, expertise and staff. Given that 28% of Australians live remotely, they should matter too.

Every child matters regardless of where they live, how much money their parents have, or what culture they are part of.

I am a proud supporter of, and donor to, the Humpty Dumpty Foundation because I want to help regional hospitals get the best equipment possible to ensure that each child who needs medical help gets it. The imbalances in our healthcare system must be addressed.

One of my sons and a daughter-in-law are doctors committed to rural medicine. My hope is that when they need to reach for equipment to save a child's life, they will find it in their local hospital – with a high likelihood it would have been donated by Humpty and its generous supporters.

I was born and raised in the wheatbelt of WA, and when I was a child, we had a wonderful local GP who looked after our community for over 30 years. For serious emergencies, we were only two hours from Perth, where there were many extremely well-equipped hospitals. We were lucky compared to many.

I have had families tell me how important the Royal Flying Doctor Service is in getting sick and injured children to hospital and how rural hospitals sometimes lack the equipment so readily available in city hospitals. That is unfair.

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Digby & the Bilisoft LED Phototherapy System donated by Coates

Digby smiling in his sleep at Mt Isa Hospital, QLD

Digby and the ‘Good Egg’

By Jessica Kyrkou, Registered Nurse, Mount Isa Hospital When I started studying nursing, I was introduced to the idea of remote nursing and enthralled by the elements of adventure and the unique experiences of remote clinicians. Along the path of study, I also became very passionate about neonatal care. When thinking about graduate applications, I hardly knew anything about Mount Isa. But, when I discovered their Special Care Nursery, I felt it would be worthwhile applying. I was interested in learning about the health of our First Nations People and felt drawn to work in a remote location to learn more about their unique cultural care needs in a healthcare setting.

After 15 years in nursing, I now work in the Mount Isa Special Care Nursery, where we care for babies from many rural and remote communities. The Nursery serves as the base for birthing families across the North West region of Queensland with an average of 470 babies born per year. With many of our patients coming from very remote towns, we are reliant on, and thankful for, the generous donations from the Humpty Dumpty Foundation to be able to support premature or medically vulnerable babies in their own country.

On Thursday before the Easter long weekend, I said goodbye to our neonatal nurse practitioner Jo and wished her a relaxing break. Not long after getting home, Jo called me to say that a special little Easter Bunny had made his way into the world and needed some help breathing, so we all quickly rescheduled our Easter to help support newborn baby Digby, and the other babies in the nursery.

receives oxygen through the placenta to an independent baby who must breathe for themselves. Some babies like Digby can struggle with this transition and require extra care to support them. Baby Digby needed CPAP (constant positive airway pressure) to help him breathe. Babies requiring interventions like CPAP are at risk of developing jaundice due to the interruption to their regular newborn feeding – and this was the case for baby Digby.

Coates - through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation recently donated a Bilisoft LED Phototherapy System that treats babies with jaundice in an open cot, allowing their parents to still take them out for feeding. We were very grateful for the donated Bilisoft to give Digby quick and effective treatment, allowing him to promptly get back into the loving arms of his mum, Tarhynee, who said:

‘It is very reassuring that living in a remote area like Mount Isa, we don’t have to be flown to other towns far away from our families … we can depend on our local hospital.’

It is such a privilege for me to be involved in the care of babies like Digby and to see them improve and go home with their families. We are very fortunate to have donations of high-quality equipment in Mount Isa that allow us to care for our babies, who are very far from tertiary facilities.

When babies are born, their respiratory system undergoes a major transition – from an underwater being that

Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

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Roy, Ana & Cassie with the new Lumify scanning device

Jaydn & Ana scanning for RHD with the Lumify

Humpty partners with medical innovators to tackle preventable disease in Indigenous Australia

By A/Prof Joshua Francis, Menzies School of Health Research Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is rare in most wealthy countries but affects children in remote communities in Australia at extremely high rates. Tragically, because of this preventable disease, some children develop severe heart failure requiring open heart surgery, and sadly, some die. The lifelong impact of this childhood disease can be devastating.

Since 2018, the Humpty Dumpty Foundation has supported remote First Nations communities with lifesaving medical equipment that helps local health workers detect the early signs of RHD. In 2023, the investment in this innovative, community-led approach is scaling up and impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across Northern Australia through a Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) project.

In the past, children routinely required admission to a hospital that was often hundreds of kilometres away from home to access the expertise and equipment needed to make an RHD diagnosis. Now, this is changing thanks to leadership from within communities, support from Humpty and its generous donors, and the guidance of experts from Menzies School of Health Research.

Working together, we have proven that it is possible to use small, handheld ultrasound machines to do a simple echo test that shows the heart valves and can pick up the

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signs of RHD. Aboriginal health practitioners, nurses, and GP doctors can learn the skills required to get good echo images and upload them to the internet for a cardiologist to review remotely.

Because we know this can work, we are committed to making it work!

Generous donations from Glencore and the Commonwealth Government meant that 20 additional Philips Lumify handheld ultrasound devices have been purchased in 2023. These devices are going straight into the hands of health workers in remote communities as part of the NEARER SCAN project, funded by Humpty and Medical Research Futures Fund.

The Menzies-led NEARER SCAN project is bringing the diagnosis of RHD closer to home. Children can now be diagnosed with RHD in their remote clinic or even in their own backyard. This accessibility to testing has the potential to result in early diagnosis and treatment for children, which can save their lives and prevent them from ever getting heart failure or from ever needing open heart surgery.

The impact on children who can now access an earlier diagnosis of RHD is enormous. The investment in training means that the effects will be sustained and continue to grow. It has been incredibly exciting to see the enthusiasm

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of Aboriginal health practitioners from different places across the Northern Territory and Western Australia as they come together in a community of practice, learning and working together to change the trajectory of this terrible disease in their communities. Some have been personally affected by the disease, and all have families who have experienced how devastating it can be. The motivation is huge, and the vision is to see every at-risk child get the opportunity to be checked with a scan close to home.

We have already seen lives changed due to this world-leading work to find and treat children with life-threatening RHD. And the job has only just begun.

Together, we can end rheumatic heart disease in this country.

The NEARER SCAN project is about more than just getting equipment out to the places that need it most.

It is about implementing strategies that have the best chance of amassing a sustained and lasting impact on health services and the children in remote communities who need them.

Menzies has been working closely with community leaders to co-design these strategies, which means that the way that NEARER SCAN gets implemented in each place might look slightly different. Communities get to lead on the decisions about who should be trained, how and where that should happen, and planning together for when, where and how the scanning will take place.

The overall objective is to build up the skills of the local health workforce and make echo scanning for detecting rheumatic heart disease as accessible as possible.

Using the lessons learned from the NEARER SCAN project, Menzies will work with communities and other stakeholders in the health sector to develop plans to scale up. This way, other affected communities can get involved to ensure more children with RHD have access to a scan nearer to home and early enough to detect it while it is still treatable.

Assoc. Professor Josh Francis implementing the NEARER SCAN project in the NT

VERSANA ACTIVE ULTRASOUND SYSTEM $46,130 EACH MENZIES SCHOOL OF HEALTH RESEARCH, DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRICS & GLOBAL TROPICAL HEALTH DIVISION (2)

To enable Menzies to sustain the significant impact of their vital work within remote Northern Territory communities, they require two of the cutting-edge diagnostic machines. The advanced technology of the Versana Active Ultrasound System, coupled with its user-friendly design, will empower medical and diagnostic teams to thoroughly examine results in the field, ultimately contributing to lifesaving efforts.

Donations are 100% tax deductable | donate.humpty.org.au

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CEO's Message

As 2023 draws to a close and a new year is almost upon us, it is an opportune time for me to reflect on the real impact we as a Humpty family make every day.

and connections to the work we do. For some, it is the very real tangibility that we as Humpty can connect to their giving.

For more than 30 years we have been striving for equitable healthcare to ensure every Australian child has access to the healthcare they need, no matter where they live.

For many of our corporate partners, it is the truly unique and targeted impact we can have in areas across Australia where they are personally invested in, or they might have an operational footprint. It is this purpose and connection that has helped to drive Humpty’s extended reach and growth across Australia.

The significant and positive change we make is only made possible by the incredible support of generous individuals and our valued corporate partners who all share our vision.

Simply put – when people and purpose align, lives change.

Lives change because of the meaningful support Humpty receives by donors who choose to make a real and tangible difference. At Humpty we know Aussies have big hearts.

The phone calls, emails and letters we receive each day fill us with hope and remind us that our very special cause and purpose is shared by so many.

We recognise there are more than 60,000 registered notfor-profit organisations in Australia alone all vying for much-needed support. It is so important to recognise that a donation to Humpty extends beyond a donated piece of medical equipment. That it goes much further, has a greater impact and touches even more lives.

Connected with the frontline, we hear firsthand how grateful they are to have received support. For some hospitals and health services, they haven’t seen assistance for many years so their gratitude is immeasurable.

Knowing someone cares really does wonders…everything from morale to staff retention. We also hear of the real stories of how our donations reduce separation and anxiety…and not just for the child, but for mums, dads and siblings. Entire family and support networks are often affected when a child isn’t well but by having essential and often lifesaving equipment at a nearby hospital means families can stay close together longer.

For our donors we know there is a real desire to help others, in particular children – many have personal stories

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Support by corporate and philanthropic donors ensures we are changing health outcomes, delivering positive health outcomes in communities in both big city hospitals and in small country towns.

For corporates, donations can personally resonate with both employees and customers leaving a real lasting impact. It provides them with an opportunity to feel proud about being a part of meaningful change. That they are playing a role in Humpty’s mission and bringing about positive health outcomes for Australian children.

More and more, both employees and consumers are seeking out organisations and brands that have a real and profound social conscience – for consumers, it even weighs on their buying decisions. A donation and partnership with Humpty extends well beyond a piece of medical equipment – it provides consumers with a connection to a cause and a real benefit to society and local communities across Australia.

Giving back is of the utmost importance to the LJ Hooker Foundation – a legacy which first started with LJ Hooker Founder, Sir Leslie Hooker. It has been seven years since the LJ Hooker Foundation first became a part of the Humpty family. In that time, over $860,000 worth of tangible giving has gone to bringing positive change to lives right across Australia.

For Christine Mikhael, CEO of the LJ Hooker Group, the strength of the partnership comes from the impact that Humpty provides its network of offices across the country.

Donations are 100% tax deductable | donate.humpty.org.au

Grateful nurses at Box Hill Hospital, Victoria

Recognising donors on the frontline

Christine Mikhael and guests at the Humpty Ball 2022

Almost half of LJ Hooker’s offices are in regional areas, so a mission like Humpty’s that can bring about change in metropolitan, regional and remote areas is one that truly resonates with the LJ Hooker Foundation.

“The reach of hospitals by Humpty has delivered the biggest impact for us,” she says.

“Seven years of partnership and donating 118 pieces of equipment across 75 hospitals and counting is significant and underscores the LJ Hooker Foundation’s purpose to give back.”

The LJ Hooker Foundations’s charitable partnership with Humpty – which includes annual fundraising for a local hospital in many LJ Hooker offices and Atlas by LJ Hooker's ongoing sponsorship of the Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn – not only strengthens the connection of the office but also of teams to the communities in which they work and live.

Through Humpty’s Wish List, the LJ Hooker Foundation is in a special position to select equipment and donate to where it is needed the most and in the words of Christine Mikhael, “The LJ Hooker Foundation and Humpty partnership gives surety around their fundraising activities as it removes the grey area about exactly where the money will go”.

By leveraging their community connections, the LJ Hooker Foundation’s fundraising efforts help us drive and implement improved healthcare outcomes as we liaise, identify, and facilitate donations directly with hospitals.

A corporate partnership with Humpty is truly invaluable.

Our promise to you is that your donation will always be used for the greatest need. With your help we will deliver on the high priority health initiatives of Australian children, our frontline and communities right across our country.

Thank you, our donors are the heart of Humpty.

Claire Reaney

CEO & Managing Director

Partner with Humpty To learn more about how Humpty is working with organisations, scan here

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Associate Professor Kath Browning Carmo, Humpty’s Director of Medical Program, Rebekah McLachlan, and Nurse Unit Manager Mickaela Assimus, Katherine Hospital, Northern Territory

Bridging Healthcare Gaps A message from Assoc. Professor Kath Browning Carmo As Chair of Humpty's Medical Program Advisory Committee (MPAC), I am excited to share with you the remarkable progress we've made in 2023. Our dedicated committee, together with the support of Humpty’s generous donors and partners, have been instrumental in enhancing healthcare access for children across Australia.

A Year of Accomplishments In 2023, we received 200 applications from hospitals and healthcare services nationwide. Among them, 163 deserving requests were approved to be added to Humpty's Wish List, demonstrating our commitment to fulfilling urgent healthcare needs.

What is outstanding is that 82% of the applications submitted to Humpty Dumpty were added to our Wish List by August 30, 2023, with a combined equipment value of over $2 million. These numbers reflect our unwavering dedication to ensuring that every item on Humpty's Wish List meets an urgent need in the healthcare sector.

As many as 79 hospitals and health services applied for essential medical equipment. A remarkable 70% of these applications hailed from regional and rural areas, reaffirming the pressing need for our assistance in these communities.

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Notable Contributions Some of the notable contributions this year include the donation of 20 Lumify Devices to the Menzies School of Health Research, a generous contribution worth over $150,000. This equipment will significantly aid in the detection of Rheumatic Heart Disease in remote and Aboriginal communities, making a substantial impact on healthcare outcomes.

Additionally, we are immensely proud of the $1.4 million donation of five ambulances to the NSW Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS). These ambulances will play a crucial role in supporting the retrieval and care of critically ill babies and children in New South Wales.

The MPAC stands as the guardian of Humpty's Wish List.

With rigorous assessments, we ensure that every item listed meets an urgent need in paediatric healthcare. For donors, it's a tangible way to make a real difference in the lives of sick children.

Australia's healthcare system faces ever-increasing pressures, with health budgets continuing to grow due to population expansion, an aging demographic, advances in medical technology, equipment, treatments and inflation.

Despite a substantial health budget in New South Wales, which stands at $33 billion, Humpty remains a lifeline

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for many health services, preventing them from going without essential equipment.

Fulfilling Urgent Needs in Regional Areas

The MPAC, together with our donors, partners, and supporters, continues to make a substantial impact on paediatric healthcare across Australia.

With your continued support, we are committed to building a healthier, more equitable future for our most vulnerable children.

Regional areas often experience healthcare disadvantages compared to their metropolitan counterparts, which result in inequitable access to care and poorer health outcomes.

These disadvantages include a lack of access to medical equipment and technology, shortages of healthcare professionals, and funding allocation disparities.

In response to these challenges, Humpty collaborates with hospitals and health services in regional and rural areas, acting as a vital link between donors and urgent equipment needs. The partnership between Humpty and Northern Territory (NT) Health is a striking example, where gaps and needs are identified by NT Health clinical teams and prioritised by the NT Health Clinical Donations Committee. In 2022, we donated 678 pieces of medical equipment to the NT, valued at over $767,000, and continued our support with 82 pieces donated by June 2023.

Thank you for joining us on this extraordinary journey.

Assoc. Professor Kath Browning Carmo Chair, Humpty's Medical Program Advisory Committee

Our Wish List process is simple:

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A hospital or health service identifies a high priority medical need where equipment can dramatically change or save the life of a sick and injured child.

They reach out to Humpty for a helping hand.

Submissions are rigorously assessed by Humpty’s Medical Program Advisory Committee – comprised of senior representatives at the top of their practice in medical and clinical care from across the country.

Approved items are added to Humpty’s Wish List and published at humpty.org.au and showcased to supporters in the hope a ‘Good Egg’ will be able to help and donate.

Humpty orders all donated equipment for delivery directly to the hospitals.

There is no middle man.

A donor plaque is affixed to the equipment recognising the generous support of the ‘Good Egg’. Where possible, feedback and photos are shared with the donor.

To grant some of the very special wishes that follow, scan this QR code OR contact Humpty on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY). wishlist.humpty.org.au

Donations are 100% tax deductable | donate.humpty.org.au

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Special projects and initiatives

Give the breath of life to the kids of Hunter New England (HNE), NSW

Enhance Monash Health's vital resuscitation fleet to save more lives, VIC

AIRVO 3 HUMIDIFIER

ATOM INFANT WARMER

JOHN HUNTER CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (6), TAMWORTH HOSPITAL (2), MAITLAND HOSPITAL (1), MANNING HOSPITAL (1), SINGLETON HOSPITAL (1)

CASEY HOSPITAL (2), DANDENONG HOSPITAL (4), CLAYTON HOSPITAL (1), JESSIE MCPHERSON HOSPITAL (1) AND SANDRINGHAM HOSPITAL (2)

PROJECT COST: $8,820 each or $97,020 total (11)

PROJECT COST: $47,520 each or $475,200 total (10)

Help Humpty to fit-out the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at John Hunter Children’s Hospital and enable access to the advanced humidifier for four nearby regional hospitals.

Monash Health is Victoria’s largest public health service providing care to one-quarter of Melbourne’s population.

AIRVO 3 technology is going to make a significant difference to the health of kids in the hunter including: Care Closer to Home: For children in HNE regional hospitals like Tamworth, Maitland, Singleton and Manning, having access to AIRVO 3 units means they can receive specialised care closer to home. It reduces the need for long and often challenging journeys to Newcastle or Sydney, keeping families together and reducing the strain on the main hospital's resources.

Mobility and Stability: The built-in battery in the AIRVO 3 allows children to move around the hospital more freely while receiving continuous respiratory support. This improved mobility can lead to better patient outcomes and reduced stress for both the children and the hospital staff.

Quality of Life: For children with chronic illnesses who must spend extended periods in the hospital, the AIRVO 3 technology offers a significant improvement in their quality of life. It enables them to attend school within the hospital and move around more freely.

Efficiency and Faster Treatment: The adoption of AIRVO 3 units aligns with the goals of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. These devices facilitate smoother patient transitions and reduced downtime, which results in faster treatment and testing for children. This, in turn, contributes to improved health outcomes and shorter hospital stays.

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Monash Health provides neonatal and paediatric care across four sites, Monash Children’s Hospital (Clayton), Sandringham Hospital, Dandenong Hospital and Casey Hospital.

One in five babies require emergency medical intervention at birth and one in 11 babies are born pre-term (Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2023).

At Monash Health, this equates to approximately 1,200 babies every year. What’s more, the nature of high-risk pregnancies at Monash Clayton site means that this percentage is much higher, equating to an additional 500 babies.

To deliver the best possible care to tiny patients, Monash Health is standardising its fleet of resuscitation cots.

They currently have a mixed fleet of three models in their services across the four sites, which is not ideal.

Modern advancements in resuscitation equipment mean the newer cots provide oxygen level monitoring, an improved heat source and the ability to provide humidified gas. Standardising the equipment will ensure that doctors and nurses are able to be trained in a consistent way on its use, resulting in a better experience for the clinical teams, and better outcomes for tiny babies.

Monash Health are seeking support to replace and standardise their resuscitation equipment.

Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

Chairman’s Wishes Humpty has a crucial role in saving children’s lives every day in Australian hospitals and health services. This is made possible by the generous donation of urgently needed medical equipment.

In consultation with Humpty’s Medical Programs Advisory Committee, we have carefully selected these pieces of equipment because of their urgent need and the vital difference they will make in supporting doctors and nurses to save children’s lives.

CHAIRMAN'S WISH 1: T1 HAMILTON VENTILATOR $64,130 COLAC AREA HEALTH, URGENT CARE, VIC, 1 NEEDED The Hamilton T1 Ventilator is a lifesaving piece of equipment for newborns, offering gentle and protective lung care. This machine enhances a baby's breathing and minimises lung injury.

Colac is in Victoria's Western District, just 150 km southwest of Melbourne. At Colac Area Health, a significant number of young patients present with respiratory issues. Their current ventilator is outdated and in urgent need of an upgrade.

CHAIRMAN'S WISH 2: INTELLIVUE MX450 CARDIAC MONITOR: $18,650 EACH DUBBO HOSPITAL, PAEDIATRICS, NSW (5), ORANGE HOSPITAL, PAEDIATRICS, NSW (3), BATHURST HOSPITAL, PAEDIATRICS, NSW (3) In the realm of neonatal care, the cardiac monitor serves as a lifeline, safeguarding the well-being of fragile infants. This equipment diligently tracks the infant heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and oxygen levels of these tiny patients.

Hospitals throughout Western NSW rely on these monitors to provide support to neonatal and paediatric patients with high acuity needs, reducing the need to transfer patients far from home for specialised care.

CHAIRMAN'S WISH 3: ATOM SUNFLOWER WARMER: $9,440 MAREEBA HOSPITAL, MATERNITY & PAEDIATRIC WARD, QLD, 1 NEEDED In the critical moments after birth, this equipment is crucial in providing warmth and maintaining a safe body temperature for sick and premature babies. It facilitates the invaluable practice of keeping mothers and babies together during the crucial hours after birth.

Mareeba is a rural town with approximately 11,000 residents.

Their only warmer stopped working, and with no funding available, Mareeba Hospital urgently needs this equipment.

Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

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CHAIRMAN'S WISH 4: GLIDESCOPE PORTABLE VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPE: $5,330 LYELL MCEWIN HOSPITAL, SPECIAL CARE NURSERY, SA In cases involving sick infants, there may be a need for a breathing tube to be delicately inserted into their lungs during resuscitation, aiding their breathing with the assistance of a ventilator. The medical team relies on a video laryngoscope for this crucial procedure, as it significantly minimises potential trauma to the baby.

Lyell McEwin Hospital is a major tertiary hospital in north Adelaide where on average 310 babies are born every month.

CHAIRMAN'S WISH 4: 950 HUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM: $4,550 EACH ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL, NICU (7) Humidifiers are a vital part of ventilation support within Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). They provide heated and humidified air to support sick and premature babies, helping to make sure tiny lungs stay warm and do not dry out.

Royal Darwin Hospital currently has a small number of humidifiers in use; however, they are obsolete models that are no longer supported by the manufacturer and therefore cannot be maintained or repaired. The donation of these humidification systems will ensure all babies receiving ventilation at Darwin NICU have access to best practice respiratory support.

CHAIRMAN'S WISH 6: HAEMOGLOBIN ANALYSER: $2,500 EACH ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL, TOP END HEALTH SERVICES, NT (1), ALICE SPRINGS HOSPITAL, CENTRAL REGION PPHC (1) The Hemocue Haemoglobin Analyser is a device designed to measure haemoglobin levels, enabling the early identification of diseases like anaemia, and facilitating prompt clinical intervention for vulnerable children. Anaemia is a condition that prohibits healthy development in a child.

This equipment will empower remote healthcare teams to enhance the health assessments for anaemia, effectively preventing and managing diseases in children across the NT.

YOU CAN HELP save A CHILD’S LIFE Scan this QR code to donate now.

Or contact Humpty on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY)

wishlist.humpty.org.au

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Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

Humpty’s Wish List New South Wales JUNO TRAINING MONITOR: $1,750 EACH Western NSW Local Health District, Newborn Care Unit (3)

ASTODIA DIAPHANOSCOPE: $3,410 Ryde Hospital, Emergency

SYMPHONY BREAST PUMP WITH STAND: $3,470 Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Emergency

JM-105 JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $10,100 EACH Moruya Hospital, Maternity (1) Muswellbrook Hospital, Maternity (1) Nepean Hospital, Women & Children’s Outpatient Department (2) South East Regional (Bega) Hospital, Maternity (1) Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick, C1 South (1) Temora Hospital, Maternity (1) Wollongong Hospital, Maternity (2)

BILISOFT LED PHOTOTHERAPY SYSTEM: $12,330 EACH Auburn Hospital, Newborn Care (2) St George Hospital, Paediatrics (1) Scone Hospital, Maternity-Millicent White Ward (1)

950 HUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM: $4,550 EACH Shoalhaven Hospital, Paediatrics (3) South East Regional Hospital (Bega), Maternity (1)

ALS BABY TRAINER MANIKIN: $5,970 Moruya District Hospital, Maternity

RADICAL-7 PULSE OXIMETER WITH WALL MOUNT: $7,080 EACH Canterbury Hospital, Paediatrics (2)

AIRVO 3 HUMIDIFIER SYSTEM: $8,820 EACH

YOU CAN HELP save A CHILD’S LIFE Scan this QR code to donate now.

Or contact Humpty on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY)

wishlist.humpty.org.au

John Hunter Children’s Hospital (6), Tamworth Hospital (2), Maitland Hospital (1), Manning Hospital (1), Singleton Hospital (1)

Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

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New South Wales M540 INFINITY MONITOR SYSTEMS: $15,220 EACH Royal Hospital for Women, Newborn Care (8)

INTELLIVUE MX450 WITH X3 MODULE: $18,650 EACH Dubbo Hospital, Paediatrics (13) Bathurst Health Service, Paediatrics (4) Orange Health Service, Paediatrics (4)

DRAEGER INFINITY C500 MONITOR SYSTEM: $29,150 EACH St George Hospital, Paediatrics (2)

BABYROO TN300 OPEN CARE WARMER: $53,620 Canterbury Hospital, Paediatrics

T1 HAMILTON VENTILATOR: $58,620 Wollongong Hospital, Emergency

South Australia SYMPHONY BREAST PUMP WITH STAND: $3,470 EACH Lyell McEwin Hospital, Children's Ward (1) Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service, Maternity & Paediatrics (1)

950 HUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM: $4,550 Women's and Children's Hospital, PICU

JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $5,240 Clare Hospital, Yorke And Northern Midwifery Group

JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $5,240 Clare Hospital, Yorke and Northern Midwifery Group

BABYROO TN300 OPEN CARE WARMER: $53,620 Roxby Downs Health Service, Birthing & Paediatrics

YOU CAN HELP save A CHILD’S LIFE Scan this QR code to donate now.

Or contact Humpty on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY)

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Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au wishlist.humpty.org.au

Victoria RAD 5 PULSE OXIMETER WITH NEONATAL SENSOR: $1,960 EACH The Northern Hospital, Special Care Nursery (2)

NEOPUFF RESUSCITATION DEVICE: $2,120 EACH Casey Hospital, Special Care Nursery (2)

SYMPHONY BREAST PUMP WITH CASE: $3,120 EACH Cohuna District Hospital, Maternity (1) Western District Health Service Hamilton Base, Midwifery (2)

JM-105 JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $10,100 EACH The Bendigo Hospital, Women's and Children's Services (1) Cohuna District Hospital, Maternity (1)

BILISOFT LED PHOTOTHERAPY SYSTEM: $12,330 EACH The Bendigo Hospital, Women's and Children's Services (2) The Northern Hospital, Special Care Nursery (2)

INTELLIVUE X3 PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEM: $13,010 EACH Grampians Health Ballarat, Paediatrics (2)

JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $5,240 Yarrawonga District Health Service, Maternity

ATOM INFANT WARMER: $50,480 Echuca Regional Health, Emergency

CONNEX VITAL SIGNS MONITOR WITH STAND: $6,440 The Northern Hospital, Maternity

YOU CAN HELP save A CHILD’S LIFE Scan this QR code to donate now.

Or contact Humpty on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY)

wishlist.humpty.org.au

Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

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Queensland RAD 5 PULSE OXIMETER WITH NEONATAL SENSOR: $1,960 EACH Thursday Island Hospital, Maternity (2) Mareeba Hospital, Maternity & Paediatric Unit (1) Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Midwifery Group Practice (1)

NEOPUFF RESUSCITATION DEVICE: $2,120 EACH Royal Flying Doctor Service QLD, Aeromedical (2)

BED WETTING ALARM SYSTEM: $2,810 EACH Mareeba Hospital, Community Health - Child & Family Services (2)

ASTODIA DIAPHANOSCOPE: $3,410 EACH Mareeba Hospital, Maternity & Paediatric Unit (1) Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital, Emergency (1) Thursday Island Hospital, Maternity (1)

CONNEX VITAL SIGNS MONITOR WITH STAND: $6,440 EACH Mareeba Hospital, Community Health/Outpatient Services (1) Redcliffe Hospital, Critical Care, Women’s & Children’s Services (4)

AIRVO 3 HUMIDIFIER SYSTEM: $8,820 EACH Redcliffe Hospital, Critical Care, Women's & Children's Services (4) Redland Hospital, Paediatrics (2)

JM-105 JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $10,100 EACH Gympie Hospital, Maternity & Paediatric (1) Redcliffe Hospital, Critical Care, Women's & Children's Services (1) Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Midwifery (1) Thursday Island Hospital, Maternity (1)

BILISOFT LED PHOTOTHERAPY SYSTEM: $12,330 EACH Gold Coast University Hospital, Newborn Care Unit (4) Stanthorpe Hospital, Maternity (1) Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Child & Adolescent Unit (1)

VIVA PAEDIATRIC EMERGENCY CART: $4,680 The Prince Charles Hospital, Paediatrics

RADICAL-7 PULSE CO-OXIMETER WITH NEONATAL SENSOR: $4,750 Gympie Hospital, Maternity and Paediatric

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Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

Northern Territory RAD 5 PULSE OXIMETER WITH PAEDIATRIC SENSOR: $2,180 EACH

CONNEX VITAL SIGNS MONITOR WITH STAND: $6,440 EACH

Pintupi Homelands Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, Primary Health (2)

Royal Darwin Hospital, PPHC Top End West (6) Royal Darwin Hospital, WCY Outpatients (2) Pintupi Homelands Health Service Aboriginal Health, Primary Health (2)

HEMOCUE HB 801 ANALYSER: $2,500 EACH Alice Springs Hospital, PPHC Central Region (15) Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Health Clinics (4) Royal Darwin Hospital, PPHC Top End (15) Tennant Creek Hospital, PPHC Barkly (5)

AIRVO 3 HUMIDIFIER SYSTEM: $8,820 EACH

EZ-IO DRILL & EDUCATOR KIT: $2,780

Royal Darwin Hospital, Paediatrics

Pintupi Homelands Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, Primary Health

Royal Darwin Hospital, Paediatrics 5A/5B (6)

I-STAT ANALYER WITH ACCESSORIES: $16,030

ALGO 7I SCREENING DEVICE: $28,530 Royal Darwin Hospital, NT Hearing

ASTODIA DIAPHANOSCOPE: $3,410 EACH Royal Darwin Hospital, PPHC Top End West (3) Pintupi Homelands Health Service Aboriginal Health, Primary Health (1)

ARTIC SUN TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: $55,850 Royal Darwin Hospital, NICU

YOU CAN HELP save A CHILD’S LIFE Scan this QR code to donate now.

Or contact Humpty on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY)

Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

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Western Australia ASTODIA DIAPHANOSCOPE: $3,410

JM-105 JAUNDICE DETECTOR: $10,100

Rockingham General Hospital, Neonatal Unit

Margaret River District Hospital, Maternity

SYMPHONY BREAST PUMP WITH STAND: $3,470 EACH

LUMIFY S4 PORTABLE ULTRASOUND DEVICE: $11,650

Rockingham General Hospital, Neonatal Unit (2)

CONNEX VITAL SIGNS MONITOR WITH STAND: $6,440

Karratha Health Campus, Paediatrics

INTELLIVUE MX500 WITH X3 MODULE: $29,230 Kununurra Hospital, Paediatrics & Staff Development

Kununurra Hospital, Paediatrics & Staff Development

YOU CAN HELP save A CHILD’S LIFE

ARCTIC SUN TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: $55,850 Fiona Stanley Hospital, Neonatal Unit

Scan this QR code to donate now.

Or contact Humpty on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY)

wishlist.humpty.org.au

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The cost of the medical equipment as listed by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation is an accurate estimate of the list price at the time of issue. It also includes an allowance for the handling costs, delivery, handover costs and a plaque to acknowledge the donor. The actual cost of equipment may be different at the time of purchase. Any shortfall in the cost of the equipment will be paid by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, any surplus will be treated as a donation and will be used to financially support the Foundation.

Humpty’s Wish List | wishlist.humpty.org.au

Australians are among the most generous people on earth The lasting legacy of a bequest

By Ross Greenwood In Australia, a common trend when there is a need in our community, people immediately say “what is the Government going to do about it?”

To be fair, Government can’t – and shouldn’t – be involved in every aspect of our lives. Often the community and charities must rally - and work together to identify and help fill the gaps in Government programs and funding.

Which, when you think about it, is exactly what the Humpty Dumpty Foundation is all about. The community, through events, raises money which helps important causes including the provision of medical equipment for neonatal and maternity wards. It takes pressure off Government and means the effort of the community is directed at the very place it views as a priority. For Government, with so many competing interests, the focus can rarely be as concentrated.

Single person households are expected to rise from around 2.25 million today, to between 3 million and 3.5 million by 2041, according to the Bureau of Statistics. Those single person households may ultimately be the recipients of charity, donors to charity through time and money during their lives…and benefactors after they have gone.

While, for many, family will always be the primary responsibility when considering wills and estates…the idea of leaving something behind, to help the community and others less fortunate, will always be a strong motivating factor in deciding where to leave their wealth. And it continues the admirable quality that Australians are among the most generous people on earth.

Australians are highly generous people. The Charities Aid Foundation report in 2022 identified Australians as the fourth most generous, out of 119 countries surveyed.

Again, this makes sense. We are – per capita – among the wealthiest people on the planet. Three in five Australians, in that year, made some form of donation to charity.

There are also different forms of charity. For some it is putting some money in a tin. For others, it is donating their time to a cause. But as the cost of living rises, more people make hard choices about where their money goes.

And after 12 interest rate rises, and energy prices going up…the competing interests become real. But remember, the donation you make today also takes pressure off Government, and your taxes, in the future.

It is younger families that often feel the squeeze from the cost of living the hardest. Which is why, traditionally, older Australians tend to be more generous. Time and money … the priorities change as we get older.

Which is also why more Australians are prepared to make a charitable bequeath as a part of their will.

There is demographic sense in this too. Around 40 percent of women who live alone are now aged over 70.

Continue your legacy by leaving Humpty a gift in your will. Big or small, your bequest will help save the lives of sick children around Australia.

Give the legacy of life

1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY) | humpty.org.au

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Newborn Auditory Testing at Campelltown Hospital

Dr Raymond Chin and newborn at Campbelltown Hospital

Grant Isedale, General Manager Campbelltown & Camden Hospitals

Paediatric care expands to meet rapid growth in South West Sydney

By Rebekah McLachlan In the heart of South West Sydney, a transformation is taking place. In this rapidly growing community, demand for children's services has surged, and, in response, the South West Local Health District (SWSLHD) is expanding paediatric services.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation is excited to partner with SWSLHD to ensure the most vulnerable population from this rapidly expanding region has access to the right medical equipment when they need it the most.

Campbelltown Hospital’s reach extends across Camden, Campbelltown, and Wollondilly Local Government areas, collectively known as Macarthur. The surge in children's hospital visits has been remarkable, with a 50% increase in the paediatric population projected over a decade from 2016-26 to 90,000 annually.

The driving force behind the increased number of children seeking medical attention is multifaceted. Lockdowns and social distancing measures between 2020-22 have kept

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children sheltered from common illnesses. Additionally, the region is experiencing a population boom, with new land releases and affordable housing attracting young families.

The landscape has also shifted from seasonal fluctuations to a continuous influx of young patients presenting with a variety of health problems.

At the forefront of South West LHD's transformation is Grant Isedale, who has served as the General Manager for Campbelltown Hospital and Camden Hospital for the past two years.

One of the striking aspects of this evolution in South West Sydney is the expansion of services in the paediatric specialty space, particularly in Campbelltown. Here, the medical teams care for children with a higher severity of health conditions than other sites within the LHD. In the near future, Campbelltown Hospital also intends to offer a broader range of paediatric services, including neurology, respiratory, gastroenterology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, cardiology, nuclear medicine and plastics.

Donations are 100% tax deductable | donate.humpty.org.au

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'In essence, the goal is to provide care closer to home and accommodate the needs of families and children in the region, eliminating the need for frequent long journeys to access healthcare,' said Grant.

st Kids Initiativ h We e o ut S e th

Campbelltown Hospital has become a vital hub for paediatric care, especially as it consistently sees more children than most hospitals in New South Wales. The Emergency Department (ED) alone at Campbelltown treats 60-70 children per day, making it one of the busiest in the state.

The hospital currently boasts a dedicated 12-bed paediatric area within the ED, staffed by paediatric emergency specialists and specialised paediatric nurses.

It also has three inpatient units, a dedicated ambulatory care unit, an outpatient services floor and a specialised surgical unit, with plans to introduce new specialties like neurology and gastroenterology. Upon full commissioning, Campbelltown Hospital will expand to accommodate approximately 60 inpatient beds and up to 32 beds in Special Care, ensuring local children receive the care they need without travelling to Westmead or Randwick in Sydney.

The development of the South West Kids Strategy, in collaboration with Sydney Children's Hospital Network, is another significant step forward. This initiative aims to create capacity for paediatric care closer to home and relieve the burden on families who often must travel long distances for treatment. The end goal is for South West Kids to be able to support Goulburn, the Illawarra and other parts of Southern NSW to close the healthcare gap in these regions.

Dr Raymond Chin, Director of Paediatric and Neonatal Care, South West Sydney LHD says, 'Challenges still remain, particularly in securing high-end specialties that complement patient care and reduce the need for children to travel long distances to distant hospitals. However, we can take comfort in knowing that the Sydney Children's Hospital Network has our back with the South West Kids initiative, designed to bolster capacity and foster collaboration.’

Like all public hospitals, Campbelltown Hospital relies on donations from charitable funds to augment its budgets.

Organisations like the Humpty Dumpty Foundation have played a significant role in supporting the hospital by providing additional resources for medical equipment and specialised care.

Dr Raymond Chin says, 'Humpty’s support provides us with access to new technology and equipment that improves our newborn care. For some of the hospitals in the district, it has been challenging to get new equipment.

The right equipment encourages nurses and other clinical staff to stay in those units. Equipment drives innovation, teaching and learning and is also a very important factor in retaining staff because sometimes staff look to move to bigger centres, but if they have access to the right equipment, then the skills they acquire will stay in local hospitals and they will train the next generation.'

The transformation of paediatric care in Campbelltown reflects the hospital's commitment to serving its community and providing essential healthcare services, ensuring that children and their families receive the support they need, no matter where they live.

'We are in our infancy in this period of growth. We have a great plan to move forward, and I’m looking forward to what the next five years is going to bring for Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals,' said Grant Isedale.

As the hospital continues to expand its services and infrastructure, the future of paediatric care in the South West Sydney area appears brighter than ever.

See Humpty’s Wish List on page 19 to show your support for babies and children with respiratory problems in South West Sydney.

AIRVO 3 HUMIDIFIERS (5) NEEDED AT $8,820 EACH

1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY) | humpty.org.au

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New technology to revolutionise parent-baby engagement in neonatal units

By Rebekah McLachlan Parents of sick babies are often not able to be with their babies 24/7, and extended family members may not be able to visit at all, depending on how ill or immunocompromised the baby is. Humpty is excited to share that due to new technology, this is no longer the case.

The AngelEye camera system offers live-streaming video access, allowing nurses and doctors to share crucial updates and heartwarming moments of tiny babies in the hospital with their parents, extended family, and caregivers, relieving stress and anxiety caused by physical separation.

After a successful pilot study at Townsville Hospital in Queensland, Neonatologist and Research Lead, Professor Yoga Kandasamy, says, ‘Clinicians and hospital staff alike are thrilled about what this technology means for families with sick babies in hospital.’

The AngelEye camera, featuring an LED touchscreen and USB ports attached to the cot, enables families to receive updates on their child via video, pictures and text, breaking down barriers that separate them from their babies during

'A blessing for my husband and myself. Our 1-yearold has been in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) since birth …

This definitely helps for the days we can’t visit.'

care. In addition, the AngelEye camera includes a real-time family chat and one-way text messaging feature for care teams to provide updates to parents.

Professor Kandasamy says one of the most important benefits of the AngelEye is the relief it offers to parents who find it incredibly challenging to leave their babies during extended hospital stays.

'Babies are with us for a long time, sometimes many months. This is very wearing on families, especially if they have other children, jobs, and competing responsibilities at home.’ says Professor Kandasamy.

Research shows that the ability to view their babies in realtime significantly boosts parents' confidence and helps them balance their responsibilities, increasing their well-being.

Expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, Townsville Hospital is approaching the final stages of its AngelEye camera system installation.

Neonatologist & Lead Professor, Yoga Kandasamy & Clinical Nurse, Michelle Baxter at Townsville NICU

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1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY) | humpty.org.au

Humpty’s Director of Medical Programs, Rebekah McLachlan, recently visited Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital (RBWH) to see first-hand what this technology will mean for them.

RBWH is Queensland’s largest hospital, seeing more than 4,800 births and over 1800 presentations to the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) annually. The pandemic revealed an increasing need for AngelEye cameras. Pieter Koorts, Director of Neonatology, Women’s and Newborn Services at RBWH explained,

‘Covid highlighted the challenge for parents and carers unable to see their newborn or sick baby unless doing shifts (one at a time). This has a significant impact on mental health.

The AngelEye cameras are at the bedside and enable parents to view their baby in real time, even if they are at home...

We have a large tertiary NICU that accepts babies from across Queensland, a vast area. Parents are often not able to be always present. We care for many families where English is not their first language. The Patient Connect solution will allow us to send a one-way communication to parents in over 100 different languages to mitigate the language barrier. Parents are unable to visit babies when they are infectious, so this enables them to still share special moments with infants.'

Similarly, Nepean Hospital NICU admits critically ill and extremely premature infants from the Nepean and Blue Mountains area of NSW and caters to the entire Western NSW & Far West NSW Health Districts population. Nepean Hospital's Senior Neonatologist, Dr Ulrike Brandenburg, states, 'We have a high number of families from rural/ regional areas far away with a high Aboriginal population within those communities. This technology will help to alleviate some of the emotional, and financial challenges for families with other children in their care and/or the need to travel long distances.'

ANGEL EYE CAMERA SYSTEM ROYAL BRISBANE & WOMEN’S HOSPITAL, NEONATOLOGY, QLD (5) NEPEAN HOSPITAL, NEONATAL SERVICES, NEONATAL SERVICES, NSW (10)

$14,010 each For parents facing prolonged separation from their newborns, this innovative technology allows them to connect with their precious babies in real-time. Beyond this heartwarming connection, the system offers a wealth of essential information, including the baby's current vital signs, weight, size and temperature. It serves as a platform for seamless communication from medical staff to parents, keeping them updated on their baby's progress and offering valuable insights into specific conditions.

Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital provides tertiary NICU care to infants across Queensland, where parents often find it challenging to be physically present.

Similarly, Nepean Hospital, on the outskirts of western Sydney, provides hope for critically ill and extremely premature infants from the Nepean Blue Mountains District, as well as those from the vast Western NSW and Far West NSW region. Many of these patients and their families come from remote, rural areas. The introduction of these innovative camera systems serves as a lifeline, alleviating emotional, logistical, and financial burdens for both families and healthcare providers.

Scan this QR code to donate now.

Or contact Humpty on 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY)

wishlist.humpty.org.au

Donations are 100% tax deductable | donate.humpty.org.au

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Layton and Family out of hospital

Layton in crib at Port Augusta Hospital, SA

Baby Layton’s early arrival

By Sarah Moon Layton's birth began with a rocky start at Port Augusta Hospital in South Australia. Born at 35 weeks + 1 day gestation and weighing 2,740 grams, Layton's arrival a month early brought both excitement and unexpected challenges for his new parents.

Mum Lucy had no inkling that she was in labour until her waters broke at home. Her son was born 24 hours later at 8pm on a Saturday night.

Lucy was unaware of the concerns there could be for Layton’s health due to his premature birth. And so, it took her by surprise when the nurses took him one way, and she got taken in another. It would be two days before Lucy and her partner could finally hold their son's little hand for the first time.

Layton was whisked away to the Special Care Nursery in a resuscitation cot donated by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, where he remained for three days. During that time, the doctors needed to administer vital treatment. Fortunately, this was made possible due to a piece of equipment also donated by Humpty called an Astodia Diaphanoscope, which allows for quick and accurate placement of a cannula to administer fluids and medication.

Layton stayed in hospital for 12 days for monitoring. Lucy was discharged home after three days. Separated while Layton remained in the hospital alone, the experience was quite confronting for Lucy – but the nurses helped her to express colostrum (breast milk) so that every three hours, she could take it down for Layton's feeds and change his nappy, helping them to bond.

During this time, Lucy observed just how busy Port Augusta Hospital’s Special Care Nursery is, with beds

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always full. Port Augusta Hospital is the only level 4 Perinatal Service in regional South Australia. Every year, they get upward of 310 births.

Over the years, Humpty has supported Port Augusta Hospital with 26 pieces of equipment valued at approximately $155,000, helping healthcare staff to deliver exceptional care to the broad, regional community they service.

And this care is felt by new parents like Lucy, who speaks highly of the midwives and nurses who made her experience manageable, saying, 'They were there for us!'

Layton’s birth story is a testament to the strength of human resilience and love. Despite facing unexpected challenges, Lucy and her partner persevered courageously with the assistance, compassion and expertise of the midwives and nurses. The experience has left them with a newfound appreciation for being a parent. It has also raised their attention to the generosity of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and its donors because, as Lucy said, 'Without the support of the resuscitaire and then the half-crib, it may have been a much longer and worrying experience for us.'

Lucy, her partner, and little Layton are now embarking on this new journey together after weathering the initial storm with the help of Port Augusta Hospital and the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.

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Hospital care should be fair for kids across Australia.

Every child has the right to quality healthcare, no matter where they live.

Help Humpty to help sick kids.

Donate by visiting donate.humpty.org.au

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Tara, Stu, Eloise & Camilla and family successfully completing the 2023 Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn

Humpty Dumpty Foundation Phone: 1300 486 789 (1300 HUMPTY) Email: humpty@humpty.com.au humpty.org.au

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